Growing groups III-V lateral nanowire channels

ABSTRACT

In one example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a mandrel comprising silicon. Sidewalls of the silicon are orientated normal to the &lt;111&gt; direction of the silicon. A nanowire is grown directly on at least one of the sidewalls of the silicon and is formed from a material selected from Groups III-V. Only one end of the nanowire directly contacts the silicon.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor devices andrelates more specifically to field effect transistors fabricated inaccordance with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology andincluding laterally grown nanowire channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Groups III-V semiconductor materials have been shown to be superior tosilicon for particular applications, including, for example,optoelectronic applications. In such applications, a layer of a GroupIII-V material may be grown over a semiconductor substrate in a pillarshape, with a narrow diameter and a height which is sufficiently longcompared the diameter. When the diameter of the Group III-V material isnarrowed to a few tens of nanometers, the resultant structure may bereferred to as a “nanowire.”

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includesforming a mandrel comprising silicon. Sidewalls of the silicon areorientated normal to the <111> direction of the silicon. A nanowire isgrown directly on at least one of the sidewalls of the silicon and isformed from a material selected from Groups III-V. Only one end of thenanowire directly contacts the silicon.

In another example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor deviceincludes forming a mandrel. The mandrel comprises a layer of silicon anda mask layer formed directly on the layer of silicon. A growth mask isdeposited directly on the mandrel, and a photoresist layer is depositeddirectly on the growth mask. The photoresist layer is patterned,resulting in the removal of a portion of the photoresist layer. Portionsof the growth mask that resided directly beneath the removed portion ofthe photoresist layer are then etched to expose a portion of thesidewalls. A nanowire is grown directly on the portion of the sidewalls.The nanowire is formed from a material selected from Groups III-V, andonly one end of the nanowire directly contacts the layer of silicon.

In another example, a semiconductor device includes a mandrel comprisingsilicon. The sidewalls of the silicon are orientated normal to a <111>direction of the silicon. A nanowire is grown directly on at least oneof the sidewalls. The nanowire is formed from a material selected fromGroups III-V, and only one end of the nanowire directly contacts thesilicon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present disclosure can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate a semiconductor device during various stages of afirst fabrication process performed according to examples of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a semiconductor device during various stages of asecond fabrication process performed according to examples of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a semiconductor device includingmultiple laterally grown nanowire channels.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one example, a method for growing Groups III-V lateral nanowirechannels is disclosed. Semiconductor materials such as Groups III-Vmaterials have been used to form nanowire channels in field effecttransistors (FETs). These channels are grown in a manner that results inthe channels being orientated vertically relative to the substratesurface. From a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)integration point of view, this approach presents several challenges.For example, epitaxial growth of Groups III-V semiconductors on siliconmay be complicated by lattice mismatch, differences in crystalstructure, and/or differences in thermal expansion coefficients, amongother complications.

Examples of the present disclosure grow Group III-V lateral nanowirechannels in a manner that is compatible with CMOS integration. In oneexample, the nanowires are grown laterally on a sidewall of a siliconmandrel. By limiting the growth area to the sidewall, nanowire channelscan be formed in a manner that is easier to incorporate into existingCMOS integration schemes than vertically orientated channels.

FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate a semiconductor device 100 during various stagesof a first fabrication process performed according to examples of thepresent disclosure. As such, when viewed in sequence, 1A-1H also serveas a flow diagram for the first fabrication process. In particular,FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate isometric views of the semiconductor device 100during the various stages of the first fabrication process.

Referring to FIG. 1A, one example of the semiconductor device 100 beginsas a substrate 102, formed, for example, from bulk silicon (Si). Aburied oxide (BOX) layer 104 is formed directly on the substrate 102. Asilicon layer 106 is formed directly on the buried oxide layer 104. Thesilicon layer 106 may be formed, for example, from a bulk silicon waferor a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. In one example, the silicon layer106, whether formed from bulk silicon or SOI, is a (110) silicon wafer(i.e., the wafer is flat in the <110> direction, as illustrated by thecoordinate axes). An etch mask 108 is formed directly on the siliconlayer 106. The etch mask 108 may be formed, for example, from silicondioxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).FIG. 1A illustrates the semiconductor device 100 after patterning of theetch mask 108, which may be performed using a dry etch process andresults in the removal of a portion of the etch mask 108 down to thesilicon layer 106. The patterning defines dimensions of at least onemandrel 110 formed partially of the etch mask material (only one mandrel110 is illustrated in FIG. 1A for clarity). The mandrel 110 isorientated such that its longest dimension is parallel to the <112>direction of the silicon layer 106, as illustrated by the coordinateaxes.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the silicon layer 106 is next etched, forexample using an anisotropic wet etch process (using, for instance,potassium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide). In one example,etching of the silicon layer 106 results in the removal of any portionsof the silicon layer 106 that do not reside directly beneath the etchmask 108. As a result, the mandrel 110 whose dimensions were defined inFIG. 1A includes both a portion of the etch mask 108 and a portion ofthe silicon layer 106. The silicon portion of the mandrel 110 has avertical sidewall that is orientated in a manner that is normal to the<111> direction of the silicon layer 106, as illustrated by thecoordinate axes. The vertical sidewall has an atomically flat surfacedue to the facet-selective nature of the etching process.

As illustrated in FIG. 1C, a growth mask 112 is next deposited over thesemiconductor device 100, directly on the buried oxide layer 104 and themandrel 110. The growth mask may be formed, for example, from an oxide.

As illustrated in FIG. 1D, a photoresist layer 114 is next depositeddirectly on the growth mask 112. FIG. 1D illustrates the semiconductordevice 100 after patterning of the photoresist layer 114, which resultsin the removal of a portion of the photoresist layer 114 down to thegrowth mask 112.

As illustrated in FIG. 1E, the portions of the growth mask 112 that donot reside directly beneath the photoresist layer 114 are next etcheddown to the buried oxide layer 104, for example using a wet etchprocess. Etching of the growth mask results in the exposure of a portionof the sidewalls of the silicon layer 106 and the etch mask 108, asillustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 1F, the photoresist layer 114 is next removedentirely. In addition, a portion of the growth mask 112 (i.e., theportion of the growth mask 112 that does not directly contact thesilicon layer 106 or the etch mask 108) is optionally also removed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1G, an epitaxial nanowire 116 is next grownlaterally, i.e., on the sidewall of the silicon layer 106. In oneexample, the nanowire 116 comprises a material selected from GroupsIII-V. In one example, the nanowire 116 is grown only on the sidewall ofthe silicon layer 106, and the longest dimension of the nanowire 116 isparallel to the <111> direction of the silicon layer 106, as illustratedby the coordinate axes. Thus, growth is significantly greater in the<111> direction than it is in the <110> and <112> directions (or in thedirections normal to the <111> direction). The nanowire 116 may be grownon both sidewalls of the silicon layer 106, as illustrated; however,only one end of each segment of the nanowire 116 contacts the siliconlayer 106. Although only one nanowire 116 is illustrated in FIG. 1G, anynumber of nanowires 116 may be similarly formed, with high density andsmall pitch.

As illustrated in FIG. 1H, a metal gate 118 is next formed on thenanowire 116. Thus, the portion of the nanowire 116 residing directlybeneath the metal gate 118 functions as a conducting channel. The metalgate 118 may be formed from a high-k metal. The portions of the nanowire116 residing on either side of the gate are modified, e.g., viaion-implantation or epitaxy, to function as source and drain regions.

The resultant nanowires may thus form the conducting channels of atransistor. Thus, Groups III-V semiconductor nanowire channels may begrown directly on a silicon surface orientated normal to the surface ofthe device substrate. As discussed above, this results in nanowireswhose longest dimension is parallel to the <111> direction of thesilicon surface, i.e., nanowire growth is significantly greater in the<111> direction than it is in the <110> direction. This allows multiplenanowires to be grown with high density and low pitch, maximizing use ofdevice space.

The process illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1H may be modified. FIGS. 2A-2D, forinstance, illustrate a semiconductor device 200 during various stages ofa second fabrication process performed according to examples of thepresent disclosure. As such, when viewed in sequence,. 2A-2D also serveas a flow diagram for the second fabrication process. In particular,FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate isometric views of the semiconductor device 200during the various stages of the second fabrication process.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, rather than start with a silicon substrateand bulk oxide layer, the semiconductor device 200 simply starts with abulk silicon wafer 202. In one example, the wafer 202 is a (110) siliconwafer (i.e., the wafer 202 is flat in the <110> direction, asillustrated by the coordinate axes). An etch mask 204 is depositeddirectly on the wafer 202 and is patterned, similar to the processillustrated in FIG. 1A. The etch mask 204 may be formed, for example,from silicon nitride (SiN_(x)). The wafer 202 is next partially etched,for example using an anisotropic wet etch process (using, for instance,potassium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide). In one example,etching of the wafer 202 results in the removal of some (but not all)portions of the wafer 202 that do not reside directly beneath the etchmask 204. As a result, a mandrel 208 formed in FIG. 2A that includesboth a portion of the etch mask 204 and a portion of the wafer 202. Thesilicon portion of the mandrel 110 has a vertical sidewall that isorientated in a manner that is normal to the <111> direction of thewafer 202, as illustrated by the coordinate axes. The vertical sidewallhas an atomically flat surface due to the facet-selective nature of theetching process. Thus, the result of this process is similar to theresult illustrated in FIG. 1B (without the substrate 102 and buriedoxide layer 104).

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, an oxide layer 206 is next deposited directlyon the wafer 202 and etch mask 204. The oxide layer may comprise, forexample, silicon dioxide (SiO₂).

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the oxide layer 206 is next polished down tothe etch mask 204.

As illustrated in FIG. 2D, the oxide layer 206 is next partially etchedto expose the silicon sidewalls of the mandrel 208. Further fabricationof the semiconductor device 200 may now proceed in a manner similar tothat described above in connection with FIGS. 1C-1H. Thus, the processillustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D is an alternative to the process illustratedin FIGS. 1A-1B.

The process illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1H (optionally substituting theprocess illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D for that illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B)may be used to fabricate any number of semiconductor nanowire channels.FIG. 3, for example, illustrates an isometric view of a semiconductordevice 300 including multiple laterally grown nanowire channels 302₁-302 _(n) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “nanowire channels302”). In this example, the nanowire channels 302 are physicallyseparated along the <112> direction of the silicon 306 by oxide regions304 ₁-304 _(n+1) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “oxide regions304”). The oxide regions 304 may comprise, for example, the growth mask112 discussed in connection with FIGS. 1A-1H.

Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments thatstill incorporate these teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a mandrelcomprising silicon, wherein sidewalls of the silicon are orientatednormal to a <111> direction of the silicon; a nanowire, wherein thenanowire is formed from a material selected from Groups III-V that isgrown directly on one of the sidewalls, wherein a first end of thenanowire directly contacts the silicon of the mandrel and a second endof the nanowire avoids direct contact with silicon, and wherein thefirst end of the nanowire is formed from the material selected fromGroups III-V; and a metal gate positioned over a portion of thenanowire, wherein portions of the nanowire over which the metal gate isnot positioned are modified by ion-implantation to create source anddrain regions.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein a longestdimension of the nanowire is parallel to the <111> direction of thesilicon.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the siliconcomprises (110) silicon.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, whereina longest dimension of the mandrel is orientated parallel to a <112>direction of the silicon.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1,wherein the nanowire forms a conducting channel of the semiconductordevice.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein thesemiconductor device is part of an optoelectronic device.
 7. Thesemiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor device ispart of a transistor.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, whereinthe mandrel further comprises an etch mask formed directly on thesilicon.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the etch maskcomprises silicon dioxide.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 8,wherein the etch mask comprises silicon nitride.
 11. The semiconductordevice of claim 8, wherein the etch mask comprises aluminum oxide. 12.The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of thesidewalls has an atomically flat surface.
 13. The semiconductor deviceof claim 1, wherein the nanowire is grown epitaxially on the at leastone of the sidewalls.
 14. The semiconductor device of claim 1, whereinthe nanowire is one of a plurality of nanowires grown directly on theone of the sidewalls, and nanowires in the plurality of nanowires arephysically separated along the <112> direction of the silicon by one ormore oxide regions.
 15. A semiconductor device, comprising: a mandrelcomprising silicon, wherein sidewalls of the silicon are orientatednormal to a <111> direction of the silicon; a Groups III-V materialgrown directly on at least one of the sidewalls to form a nanowire,wherein a first end of the Groups III-V material directly contacts thesilicon of the mandrel and a second end of the Groups III-V materialavoids direct contact with silicon; and a metal gate positioned over aportion of the Group III-V material, wherein portions of the Group III-Vmaterial over which the metal gate is not positioned are modified byepitaxy to create source and drain regions.